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The 20th Kinsale International Rally kicked off on friday afternoon 8th May with a drive to visit the collection of Dr Vernon Siefert at Lettercollum House, Timoleague, near Clonakilty, West Cork. Dr. Siefert is a Swiss national but had worked most of his life in Germany as a financial treder and has a great knowledge of Porsche Germany and has now retired to live in west Cork. He has an all British collection which includes every model of E Type Jaguar, some XK models, 2 Aston Martins and a TVR.

Later we were served up some beautiful food and refreshments on the lawn by staff and family.Club President Dave Whelan attended all the events over the weekend with Porsche Club Great Britain Regional and Motorsport Director Chris Clarke, Albert Lennon and Denis Collins. On Friday evening a Civic reception was given by Kinsale Urban Council, Lord Mayor Dermot Collins and Club Chairman Cathal O Shea welcomed all competitors, Swansera Historic Vehicle Register and Porsche Club Ireland.

On Saturday morning 147 cars collected in the town centre, it created a magnificent sight before bring led of by a pipe band, the cars did a 3 counties drive taking in Lismore Co Waterford for lunch, The V Drive to Cologheen and Ballyporeen Co Tipperary, Mountainbarracks, Kilworth and back to Kinsale for Dinner and Prizegiving at Actons Hotel where we were entertained by the famous Joe Mac formally of the Dixies and his band into the late hours.

On Sunday morning the cars assembled at Charles Fort and refreshments at Bulman Pub and Restaurant and at 1.30 pm the cars then took a coastal drive to Roberts Cove and eventually back to Fields Pub in Dunderrow for more food, refreshments and afternoon music.Dave Whelan presented a 997 model to Culb Chairman Cathal O Shea to commerate Porsche Club's participation in the rally.

12 Porsche's took part in the different events over the weekend as well as 16 cars from Wales, and competitors from Belfast , Dublin and rest of Ireland. A special thanks to Barney Lynch who flew in from Heathrow and travelled to Tomoleague to see Dr Siefert's collection in his 993 on friday evening and then flew to Amsterdam early saturday morning

The rally was treated to Mediterrian climate all weekend and many drivers of open cars received sum burn.This years event was the most successful in the rally's history

Next year is 21 st running of the event and hopefully we will have an even bigger Porsche attendance.


10/05/2009